Report - Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale

Conclusion
In conclusion of its mandate, and in regard to the energy context of the project, the
Joint Review Panel underscores the existing consensus that accessible reserves of
natural gas in the western Canadian sedimentary basin are declining and could be
exhausted within nine or 10 years. The Panel also points out that other Canadian
reserves are not accessible to the North American gas pipeline network. Moreover,
the Panel stresses the emphasis placed by the government’s energy strategy on the
role of natural gas in Quebec’s economic and industrial development, and recognizes
that the project’s gas supply would strengthen its energy security. This added
contribution could lead to a relative reduction in the price of natural gas in the Quebec
market. Beyond this, the Panel recognizes the project’s importance in terms of
investment and economic benefits at the regional level.
The Panel concludes that there are two major contentious issues related to the
project. These are the risks associated with it, and the integration of its port and shore
facilities into the zone under development. These two issues have a major influence
on the social acceptability of the project within the community.
From the methodological standpoint, the Panel is of the opinion that the project’s risk
assessment conforms to current established practices in the field. The assessment’s
conclusions are also in keeping with the known historical record of the liquefied
natural gas chain security in both its maritime and land-based facilities. From the
standpoint of security, the Panel is of the view that the assessment meets state-ofthe-art
standards and that risks associated with the project seem acceptable. Given
the proximity of facilities to inhabited areas, and on the basis of a preventative
approach, the Panel deems it advisable for emergency measure planning for the
project to be established and applied on the basis of a criterion of thermal radiation of
3 kW/m 2 .
In regard to the project’s integration into the area, the Panel notes that it conforms to
the City of Lévis’ land use planning and development plan which calls for industrial
and harbour development. However, due to its very nature, the project would diverge
from the VilleGuay district’s current land uses.
The Panel is also of the view that the project’s port facilities, as well as the building of
the access road to the jetty through the cliff, would alter the quality of the Beaumont
shore’s landscape. If the project is authorized, the Panel recommends that the
proponent take all measures necessary to ensure the best possible integration of port
and shore facilities with the landscape during the current environmental assessment
process.
Rabaska Project – Implementation of an LNG Terminal and Related Infrastructure 225